New Artist Spotlight Archives

Daniel Lee – New Artist Spotlight

December 2, 2014 Leave a comment

Daniel Lee

Daniel Lee isn’t the first young Country artist to write about trucks, beer and ball caps. But he’s found a few fresh perspectives on these tropes.

DOWNLOAD DANIEL LEE’s ROOTS ON AMAZON

Consider “Hell Yeah,” one of five solo-writes on Daniel Lee’s debut album Roots, available now from Average Joes Entertainment. This is a flat-out exercise in braggadocio. He hollers out that he’s a “throw-down fighter,” a “Mason jar sipper” and “one crazy S.O.B.” His litany owes less to Music Row than to Mike Fink, the frontier riverboat legend who informed the patrons of countless saloons, “I’m a Salt River roarer! I’m a ringtailed squealer! I’m a reg’lar screamer from the ol’ Massassip!”
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American Young – New Artist Spotlight

December 2, 2014 Leave a comment

American Young

When two artists, already wise to the ways of the Country Music world, form a duo called American Young, the result can be more varied than what you often get from sibling pairs.

When the twosome is Kristy Osmunson and Jon Stone, it can also be close to magic.

They have plenty in common. Both are American and, though well established in Nashville, young. Stone’s writing credits include “Me and My Gang” for Rascal Flatts, “A Woman Like You” for Lee Brice and “It Ain’t Yours to Throw Away” for fictitious superstar Gunnar Scott on “Nashville.” Osmunson sizzled on fiddle with another duo, Bomshel.

DOWNLOAD AMERICAN YOUNG ON AMAZON

Mary Sarah – NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT – CMA Close Up Interview

October 13, 2014 Leave a comment

Mary Sarah Up Close

Mary Sarah may keep her last name secret, but she’s no secret to the legends who guest on her first album, Bridges, produced by Kent Wells, executive produced by Freddy Powers and released July 8 on Cleopatra Records.

She nails stratospheric notes with Ronnie Milsap on “What a Difference You’ve Made In My Life,” matches Tanya Tucker sass for sass on “Texas (When I Die),” swaggers with Merle Haggard on “The Fightin’ Side of Me,” soars while also digging into the lyric with Dolly Parton on “Jolene” … and, in a surprising coup de grâce, channels Connie Francis, complete with teary teenage angst, on “Where the Boys Are,” with the song’s co-writer Neil Sedaka chiming along.

DOWNLOAD BRIDGES ON AMAZON

DownDay – New Artist Spotlight – CMA Close Up Interview

September 22, 2014 Leave a comment

DownDay could fit in equally at CMA Music Festival or on a bill with Metallica.

But the Arkansas quartet’s hearts are pure, if power-chorded, Country.

Download DownDay Music On Amazon

Christian Dean and Rockey Jones, along with bassist Damon Shores and drummer Mike Martin, signed with Render Records in April 2013. Nearly two months later, the label released the band’s earlier, regional album, Chapter 1, along with “Back in the Day” (written by Jones, Dean, Steve Freeman and David Oneal). From the structure of the song to the catchy chorus, that debut single leaned strongly toward Country and began earning adds within a month on Country radio. Read more →

Brett Eldredge Hits New Heights – New Artist Spotlight – CMA Close Up Interview

September 15, 2014 Leave a comment

Brett Eldredge opened the biggest year of his career in 2013

With a chart-topping smash, “Don’t Ya” (written by Eldredge, Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley). He also toured with Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift, and has made numerous media appearances, including atop a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Download Brett Eldredge’s BRING YOU BACK on Amazon

But success wasn’t quick in coming to the hard-working artist. His first single, “Raymond” (Eldredge and Truman Bradley Crisler), a heartfelt song about an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s, was released to critical acclaim but mediocre chart achievement. When a second single failed to reach the Top 40, he decided to pause, regroup and ultimately work even harder to make his Read more →

Leah Turner – New Artist Spotlight – CMA Close Up Interview

August 30, 2014 Leave a comment

Leah Turner – New Artist Spotlight – CMA Close Up Interview

Leah Turner was raised on a California ranch, the daughter of a rodeo champion. Her parents bought her a piano when she was 5. Within a year, inspired by the Country classics her mom and dad enjoyed, she had written her first song.

In a college songwriting class Read more →